Awareness on importance of Biodiversity Management held at Kangpokpi
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, June 26 2019: A one- day awareness programme on 'Biodiversity and the importance of Biodiversity Management Committee in local level' was successfully held today at Multipurpose Hall, ADC Sadar Hills in Kangpokpi District Headquarters.

The function was attended by Haokholal Hangshing, Chairman ADC Sadar Hills; Thangjakam Misao, Vice Chairman ADC Sadar Hills; Executive members and members of ADC Sadar Hills; Chief Executive Officer ADC Sadar Hills and staffs apart from Dr Lokho Puni, Addl PCCF GoM, who is also the Member Secretary of Manipur State Biodiversity Board and other concerned officials.

More than 150 village chiefs across Kangpokpi district also attended the function and were distributed various necessary documents for constituting Biodiversity Management Committee in the local level after the awareness programme.

Haokholal Hangshing, Chairman ADC Sadar Hills lauded the efforts of Manipur State Biodiversity Board in its attempt to restore and conserve the Biodiversity in the state and urged all the village chiefs to cooperate in promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity while stressing on its importance.

Speaking at the function, Dr Lokho Puni highlighted the importance of constituting Biodiversity Management Committee in local level to restore and conserve the Biodiversity and minutely elaborated on Biodiversity Act 2002, Biological Diversity Rules 2004 and Manipur Biological Diversity Rules 2008.He said that conservation of Biodiversity has three tiers, viz National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Board and Biodiversity Management Committee in local level while adding that formation of Biodiversity Management Committee is mandatory for all recognized villages to make guidelines to control and preserve Biodiversity of the village.

"Among many other Acts in India, Biodiversity Act is one of the most important Acts for the people as it not only provides various features to conserve Biodiversity but also empower the people by conserving the Biodiversity", asserted Dr Lokho Puni.

He pointed out that only 250 Biodiversity Management Committee have been constituted in the state so far while in Kangpokpi District only 9 Biodiversity Management Committee are constituted till now while adding that there are around 2500 recognized village under District Councils in the hills District of Manipur.

He further said that the Biodiversity Management Committee be constituted mandatorily on or before July 14 while appealing all the village chiefs to follow the procedures as per the guidelines provided in the Acts and Rules.

However, the village chiefs who attended the awareness programme sought more time in the formation of the Biodiversity Management Committee stating that they need to consult with the District Council about the pros and cons of the Committee while expressing disappointment over the Government for executing works hurriedly only in the last hours.

The village chiefs have resolved that the ADC Sadar Hills shall enlighten the apex body of the chiefs association, SAHILCA about their finding of the Committee at the earliest before blindly forming the Committee.

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